RSPCA Sheffield

About RSPCA Sheffield

The RSPCA Sheffield Branch operates independently of the National RSPCA which is based in Horsham, Sussex. We are COMPLETELY self funding ie. are not funded by the National Society, the government or our local authority. The Sheffield branch of the RSPCA is run by volunteer trustees. The Branch, when fully operational, can cost over £1500 PER DAY to run. This money has to be raised locally by staff and volunteers through fund raising, donations and legacies.
The Branch is made up of:

• an Animal Centre which rehomes unwanted, neglected and abandoned cats and dogs. We neuter, vaccinate and microchip every dog and cat which comes to the Centre and all cats are tested for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (feline AIDS) and Feline Leukaemia Virus.
  we NEVER put an animal to sleep unless it has proved to be aggressive or on veterinary advice
• A Welfare Clinic which offers reduced-rate vaccinations, flea/worm treatments and microchipping. Our operating theatre is now set up and we are able to offer a neutering service subject to qualification - please call us for more information
• A charity shop, situated at Crookes, selling second-hand goods such as clothing, bric-a-brac and books for only £1 per item.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 has failed.. Yet, after 21 years of the RSPCA having to deal with the mess that the Dangerous Dogs Act has left us in, the government today announced a flimsy package of measures to target irresponsible dog ownership, which fall way short of tackling the ever escalating problem.
Despite years of working with policy makers  to help them to understand the issues that we, along with the police, local authorities and other animal charities have to deal with on the frontline, we seem to have been completely ignored.

While we welcome the proposed extension of the laws to cover attacks on private property, this is a mere drop in the ocean. The government has wasted this opportunity to make meaningful policies  in the fight against irresponsible dog ownership, and with our animal centres filled to bursting with abandoned and abused dogs, we simply can’t wait another 20 years.

Even at their strongest, the proposals for micro-chipping which will be open to (yet another) public consultation, “compulsory micro-chipping for all dogs” will fall short of really addressing the issues and demonstrates  that the Government have failed to grasp the complexities of this issue.

Micro-chipping alone is not enough

Many of the abandoned animals we see already have microchips, but inadequate and out of date records mean owners are unreachable or can simply claim that they ‘gave the dog away years ago’ (This was pointed out to Secretary of State, Caroline Spellman when she visited our Harmsworth Animal Hospital, but it seems to have fallen on deaf ears). The RSPCA is calling for the reintroduction of a mandatory dog registration system to run alongside compulsory microchipping, but it is vital that owners details be centrally held in an up to date  Government run database if it is to be effective.
Dog registration would go a huge way to improving the lives of millions of dogs and  holding the irresponsible owners to account for acts of cruelty or neglect.
After 20 years of having to deal with the reality of failing dog control laws which fails to hold cruel and irresponsible owners accountable for their actions, frankly, we’ve had enough.
Dogs who have irresponsible owners are very often victims of cruelty and neglect themselves. To encourage them to be aggressive, dogs may suffer violence at the hands of their owners. The RSPCA has seen dogs with broken bones, animals covered in burns and even dogs attacked with glass bottles. The number of abandonments, particularly of large bull breed dogs, has increased so much that RSPCA rescues are crammed to bursting.

Urgent action is needed! 

Dog owners need to be held accountable for their actions, which includes taking responsibility for their dogs behaviour and training. Current legislation is failing to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog ownership and since the introduction of The Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991, the situation has been getting progressively worse for both people and animals.
How the legislation needs to change: 

• Most dog attacks happen in the home, but current legislation does not cover private property, so many irresponsible owners are not held accountable for attacks.
• Emphasis on prevention by education and engagement.
• Compulsory microchipping and dog registration is vital but details must be held in a centrally held government database which is kept up to date if it is to be effective.
• A comprehensive approach to tackle irresponsible dog ownership that prevents serious incidents from occurring rather than waiting for them to happen before action can be taken
• Measures to improve dog welfare – especially for those that are seized as part of investigations
• The abolition or phasing out of Breed Specific Legislation

 How can I help?

Millions of dogs continue to suffer due to government’s failure to take meaningful action on this issue. Imagine how many more dogs will suffer if we have to wait another 20 years for a revision of the law!

Contact details

R S P C A
2, Stadium Way
SHEFFIELD
S9 3HN

Contact details:

01142 898050
www.rspca-sheffield.org.uk

Services:

Adopt an animal
Pet welfare advice
General enquiries
Lost and found
Worming
Neutering
Pet merchandise
Veterinary financial aid
Micro chipping

Opening hours:

10am-4pm everyday except closed Wed. Clinic 2pm-4pm Mon & Thurs.

Charity number:

225570